Shrek the Third and The Pirates of the Caribbean attracted fans by the theater-full on both sides of the Atlantic.

Of course, Magicians is a different kind of film -- perhaps not in competition with the blockbusters.

Just like real-life magicians, the film did what some may have considered impossible; and made a splash in its first weekend.

The story is the age-old tale of boy meets girl, boy performs magic with girl, boy and partner accidentally cut off the head of girl in trick, boy and partner split-up and compete against each other in contest for money and fame.

Criss Angel's MindFreak would not seem to need additional promotion. A and E renewed his contract and the ratings could not be better.

Criss Angel's relentless marketing and tireless promotion are likely the secret to his success in a very competitive marketplace. He competes with magicians as well as hundreds of entertainment options from which the public may choose.

Sure, the headline reads "Houndini the Musical" but we checked it out. The musical involves Harry Houdini rather than his less-famous, but still impressive canine side-kick as featured in the D.C. Comics.

The musical tells of "betrayed friendship, sinister plotting, love, romance and sacrifice from the golden age of variety, Houdini the Musical aims to take the audience back to a time when the most famous magician and escapologist of them all topped the bill."

Kozak the Magician considered by many to be one of the best sleight-of-hand, comic magician's in the world added another notch to his belt as he received the 2007 Merlin Award as the International Comedy Magician of the Year from Tony Hassini from the IMS. The Merlin honor was long overdue.

The International Magicians Society (IMS) is the world's largest magic society. Also on hand for the festivities at the Hard Rock hotel was magician extroardinairre Criss Angel, who is a huge fan of Kozak. Adding to the glitz and glamour of the night were Super model Cindy Margolis and the PCD of Comedy aka "The Pussycat Dolls of Comedy". Kozak and his partner Michael Bloom, himself one of the top tv producers in the world founded the PCD of Comedy, an all female comedy troupe who will open their own show in Las Vegas this summer.

"It offers a snapshot of the great illusionist with a peek behind the curtain at one of his tricks. The artist, reared on a steady diet of "Tintin" and R. Crumb, had no interest in Houdini or in magic. But he took the job in part for a chance to learn from Lutes and to pencil, ink and letter the story from his writer's thumbnails."

The reporter notes that Mr. Copperfield "is embarrassed about his plane. And his islands, of which he has four." His interview style may at times appear mechanical but it is always offered with enthusiasm.